HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2012 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
December 10, 2012
A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in
Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on December 10, 2012, at
7:30 p.m., there being present all the members of said Council, to wit: Byron
Randolph Foley, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, William D. Jones, and Lisa D.
Garst; with Byron Randolph Foley, Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S.
Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and Clerk
of Council; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; Melinda J. Payne, Director of
Planning and Economic Development; Charles E. VanAllman, Jr., City Engineer;
William C. Maxwell, Assistant City Attorney; and Mike Stevens, Communications
Director; and the following business was transacted:
The November 26, 2012, work session and regular meeting minutes were
approved as written.
The report by the Director of Finance of the City’s financial status for a
three-month period ending September 30, 2012, was received and ordered filed.
Mayor Foley requested that Council recognize and commend the service
of Cindy Neathawk on the Salem School Board for the past 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Council individually thanked Mrs. Neathawk for her years of
service and hard work on the Salem School Board that benefitted the children of
Salem; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Neathawk thanked Council for its support over the years,
and also thanked the past and present members of the School Board, as well as
the previous and current superintendent of schools; she noted that Salem truly
cares about its children and its community and it has been a pleasure serving the
children of Salem.
Mayor Foley requested that Council consider adopting Resolution 1217
commending the Salem High School Golf Team for winning the 2012 State AA
Golf Championship; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Foley read resolution 1217; and
ITEM 1
RESOLUTION 1217
ADOPTED, AS
AMENDED,
COMMENDING THE
SALEM HIGH
SCHOOL GOLF
TEAM
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WHEREAS, it was noted that there was an error in the resolution;
therefore, the resolutions were not presented to the Golf Team; and
WHEREAS, Council presented the members of the Salem High School Golf
Team with championship lapel pins;
ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY
COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1217 commending
the Salem High School Golf Team for winning the 2012 State AA Golf
Championship was hereby adopted as amended – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst
– aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and
Byron Randolph Foley – aye.
Mayor Foley requested that Council consider adopting Resolution 1218
establishing various miscellaneous fees; and
WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens, Chair of Council’s Audit-Finance
Committee, reported that the Committee met to review the resolution; he then
referred to the Director of Finance; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Finance stated that Resolution 1218 only
amends the dumpster collection fee; the current fee is $20 for regularly
contracted customers and $25 for call-in customers; he stated that because of
the additional work that is required for call-in customers, it is requested that the
fee for call-in customers be increased to $35; in addition, he asked that Council
authorize the Director of Finance, in conjunction with the City Manager’s Office
and the Sanitation Division to revise the City’s current policy with these fees in
mind;
ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1218 establishing various
miscellaneous fees was hereby adopted and the Director of Finance, in
conjunction with the City Manager’s office and Sanitation Division, is hereby
authorized to revise the City’s current policy with these fees in mind – the roll
call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye,
John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye.
Mayor Foley requested that Council receive presentation from the
Director of Finance regarding the Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year
ending June 30, 2012; and
ITEM 2
RESOLUTION 1218
ADOPTED RELATED
TO MISCELLANEOUS
FEES
ITEM 3
REPORT RECEIVED
REGARDING THE
COMPREHENSIVE
FINANCIAL REPORT
FOR FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30,
2012
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WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens, Chair of Council’s Audit-Finance
Committee, referred to the Director of Finance to give the report; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Finance appeared before the Council and
called upon John Aldridge from Brown Edwards to assist; and Mary Ann Penney
from the Finance Department Staff; he also credited Tammy Todd for her work
regarding the reports; he stated that Council should have four different reports
that he is going to briefly discuss: the first one is “Required Communications”,
the next one, “Financial Analysis”, will not be discussed as it contains
information Council is receiving for the first time , the next report concerns
comments on internal controls, and the last report is the Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report; he stated that the City Charter requires that the
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report be presented to Council; he encouraged
Council to review the entire report; he then noted specific pages of the report;
and
WHEREAS, John Aldridge with Brown Edwards and Company in Roanoke,
appeared before the Council; he stated that the City had a “clean opinion” on
the financial statement, which is as good as it gets and is the highest level of
assurance placed on a financial report; he stated that as a part of the audit, the
school system was also audited and noted that the school system is also included
in the opinion given; he further noted that there was only a minor finding in the
audit, which was the financial disclosure forms that are required to be filled out
each year and there were four individuals who did not turn the forms in on time
last year, which is not uncommon in localities; he also asked that Council
monitor the fund balance in the general fund in the future; he stated that
currently the city could only operate for about half a month if no more tax
dollars were collected, which is about the same as last year, but was over four
months approximately ten years ago; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Foley questioned if there was a benchmark to strive
for; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Aldridge stated that there is no set benchmark, as it is
very unique to each locality; the City of Salem has a very diverse tax base and
asked that Council and the City be aware of its trends, follow the trends and
understand the trends in order to find a number Council and the City is
comfortable with; he stated that it is nothing to be alarmed about, but monitor
as the city moves forward; he commended the Finance Department staff for its
hard work and efforts with the audit; he discussed Gasby 68 that goes into effect
in 2015; he further stated that he has worked at Brown Edwards since 1994 and
has worked with the Director of Finance since then and it has been a privilege
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and honor to work with him and his staff; and
WHEREAS, Council commended the Director of Finance and the Finance
Department staff for their hard work; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Finance also commended his staff;
ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, was hereby accepted – the roll call
vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C.
Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye.
Mayor Foley requested that Council consider appointments to fill
vacancies on various boards and commissions; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Foley noted that there is a vacancy on the Economic
Development Authority and three applications have been received; he stated
that interviews will be held on January 28, 2013, with a cutoff date of January 14,
2013, to submit a resume/application;
ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY
COUNCILWOMAN GARST, AND DULY CARRIED, Daniel E. Karnes was hereby
reappointed as an at-large representative on the Blue Ridge Behavioral
Healthcare Board of Directors for a three-year term, said term will expire
December 31, 2015 – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones –
aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley –
aye.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on
motion adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
ITEM 4
DANIEL E. KARNES
REAPPOINTED AS
AT-LARGE MEMBER
OF BLUE RIDGE
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTHCARE
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS